question about bender

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What is the planetary roller think I see at HF? I think it's for then round stock.  I want a bender but not sure if HF is the way to go.  I also am on a very tight budget to drop 800 on the benders that are mentioned in previous bender threads.Laura MM 180Chop SawDewalt grinderhelpful husband
Reply:Laura, it really depends on what you want to bend. Plate, round stock, or tube??If it's tube you want to bend, then a JD squared is the best bet for the money. You can get them used for 400-500 bucks with a die or maybe 2. I have like 8 different dies for mine now, and they aren't cheap. But they do the job very well. Let me know if that is the type of bender you are looking for, and I'll see if I can find one for you for a decent price.And then, after so much work...... you have it in your hand, and you look over to your side...... and the runner has run off. Leaving you holding the prize, wondering when the runner will return.
Reply:www.americanbender.comTry these guys.  I communicated with them last week.  You can probably get the bender and tooling package for 800 dollars.  They seem flexible on price.I have out grown my hf bender.  I thought the shopoutfitters and howron benders were lateral moves.  Though they are much better crafted than hf their capacities are the simular. Also, outside tube bending dies, the tooling isn't too expensive.  The american bender is a replica of the hossfeld.  They made some changes, though all tooling is interchangeable.  For 50 bucks the hf will get you started.  You can figure out what you will do most, then upgrade.  Howron  sells a book on making bender dies.  There are also threads this forum for making dies.The planetary roller does roll rings up to 3/16" x 1" material. You can push it to 1.5 inch strap.
Reply:I want to be to make the cool and fancy stuff all your wives want.  So they will sell in the shop I'm about to open to all the wives and military spouses around here.  So, round stock, solid+hollow, I'd like to be able to do the scrolls too.  I want to make bottoms for tables that I or hopefully people who come to the shop need for a mosaic table top.  Does that make sense.  I have a budget right now of 1000, possible another 5-600 if my slumlord from GA gives up our deposit back.  Unfortunately this can't all go to tools.  I still have to get the bottle/gas which is $200ish, buy metal for the bldg (hopefully this will change once I look around more) metal to make the stuff to sell. I hope to come across a plasma someones getting rid of.  That is totally out of the question for a while.  I have my welder, chop saw, grinder and was thinking about a bender but 800 is way to much right now.  I plan on going thru the drop yard tomorrow before I talk about the metal at full price.  There are also a few benders at Lowes.  We only used pipe benders in school on conduit so I don't even really know how to use them.  I'll figure it out though.  Thanks for the info, I still need a lot of info from yous.The remainder of my budget has to get supplies to do the coffee house thing and get my other supplies for other hobbies for the shop.Laura MM 180Chop SawDewalt grinderhelpful husband
Reply:sorry, I didn't read thoroughly., I thought your budget was 800 for a bender.Try this postwww.metalcraftusa.com/scrollbenderSolid stock is aways easier to work with and requires less speciallized tooling.  Perhaps you could find a local blacksmith to make you some scroll patterns, then you cold bend our on scrolls. Also, many scrolls can be ordered, so all you have to do is put you project together.  Good luck, seems like you have many ideas.
Reply:tapwelder hit it on the head. I use the 1/2, 2/2, 2/3 all the time for scrolls. check their "surplus" section as they will always have the smaller scrollers on sale - usually like $30-50 each for the small ones. they are high quality toolsFire!, Fire! Oh wait, that's my torch...Lincoln PT-225 TIGLincoln 175 MIG
Reply:Thanks for the help.  I'm excited and nervous to get these tools I need.  That probably sounds dumb, I always seem to second guess myself until I get comfortable.  That's probably part of the reason people don't take me seriously at first.Laura MM 180Chop SawDewalt grinderhelpful husband